Bracket for auto license tags or the like



June 2, B S

BRACKET FOR AUTO LICENSE TAGS OR THE LIKE Filed June 21, 1955 L/ yd m. BMW

Patented June 2, 1936 BRACKET FOR AUTO LICENSE TAGS OR THE LIKE Lloyd M. Bruns, Wabasso, Minn.

Application June 21,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a bracket or fastening device for automobile license tags or the like and has as its object the provision of such a device characterized by simplicity of application and 5 economy of parts.

Briefly, the invention consists of a pair of complemental members fashioned to clamp between them a license tag or the like, and to readily accommodate themselves to tags of various widths.

14-. Further the invention includes key-controlled means for locking the parts of the clamp together as to prevent unauthorized removal of the license tag from the clamp.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the application of the invention.

30 Figure 2 is an end elevational View also illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that the bracket or fastening device comprises a pair of complemental members 5 and 6 respectively; and that each of these members may be fashioned from metal or other suitable material cut, shaped and dimensioned to provide a substantially fiat body l having at one end a right angularly disposed flange 8 reversely bent upon itself to provide for the flange a channel, 9 whose outer wall at its free edge is slightly offset and transversely curved to provide what may be termed an internally grooved lip l adapt- 40 ed to spring into engagement with the bead II usually provided slightly inwardly from the marginal edge of the license tag or plate l2.

Provided on the body 7 of the member 8 and secured thereto in any suitable manner is a guide 45 tube [3 while secured to the body I of the member in any suitable manner is one end of a guide rod I4 that has on its free end a head l5 having a sliding fit within the guide tube IS.

The free end of the tube 13 is formed to proto vide a restricted opening through which the rod I4 operates, and also to provide an abutment for one end of a coil spring l6 arranged within the tube is and having an end bearing on the head l5 of the rod in a manner to normally urge 55 the head l5 inwardly and the member 5 toward 1935, Serial No. 27,763

the member 6 so as to clampbetween said members in a positive and efiicient manner plate l2.

Also, in accordance with the present invention the member 6 has its body I equipped with an attaching part or post I! the same being preferably secured to an edge of the body I of the member 8 in any suitable manner, preferably as by being integral therewith so that the entire member B may be formed from a single blank.

In actual practice, and as thought to be apparent, an intermediate portion of the upper edge of the license tag or plate 12 is snugly fitted within the channel 9 of the member 5 with the lip l6 of said member 5 snapped into engagement with the bead II adjacent the upper edge of the plate l2.

At its lower edge plate 12 is similarly engaged with the member 6, and the spring [6 associated with the guide elements l3 and M in the manner shown and before explained tend to urge the members 5 and 6 toward one another to secure said members engaged with the upper and lower edges of the license tag I2 in a positive and efiicient manner.

Obviously, part ll of the device may be bolted or otherwise secured to any suitable part of the automobile, and when once fixed need not be disturbed when a change of license plate or tag is to be made.

For securing the members 5 and 6 at the desired adjustment and in engagement with the license plate l2 against unauthorized removal of the plate there is provided a key controlled lock which consists of a suitable casing l8 having a part lBa adapted to slip down over and to be secured in any suitable manner to the upper end of the guide tube l4, and a second part in which is located a locking dog l9 and suitable key actuated mechanism 25 for operating the dog E9. The dog [9 is projectable into the part Mia and through a slot in the upper portion of the tube M for engagement with rack teeth 2| formed on the upper portion of the rod I l. Obviously, as the members 5 and B are adjusted relative to one another for clamping the plate l2 therebetween in the manner above described locking dog 19 will swing into engagement with the teeth 2| in a manner to positively secure the parts of the clamp against being unauthoritatively separated so that the license plate I2 is held on the clamp positively and against unauthorized removal. A key or the like will of course be provided for retracting the dog [9 to permit a removal of the plate l2 from the clamp.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A license tag holder comprising a pair of telescopic members, resilient means connected With said members, tending to telescope the members, and a clamping element on the free end of each member, said clamping element including a body plate secured to its respective member, and said body plate at one edge having a flange extended at right angles thereto and reversely bent upon itself to provide a channel adapted to re-' ceive an edge of the license tag.

2. A license tag holder comprising a pair of telescopic members, resilient means connected with said members tending to telescope the members, and a clamping element on the free end of each member, said clamping element including a body plate secured to its respective member, and said body plate at one edge having a flange extending at right angles thereto and reversely bent upon itself to provide a channel adapted to receive an edge of the license tag, and said channel having one wall thereof provided with an internal groove to accommodate the bead usually provided adjacent the marginal edge of the license tag.

3. A license tag holder comprising a pair of telescopic members, resilient means connected with said members tending to telescope the members, a clamping element on the free end of each member, one of said telescopic members being provided with teeth, a locking dog mounted on the other telescopic member to engage with the teeth for locking the telescopic members against axial movement relative to one another, and key controlled mechanism for moving the locking dog into and out of engagement with said teeth.

4. In a license tag holder, a pair of complemental members adapted to receive and clamp the license plate therebetween, each of said members including a body portion, a tube on the body portion of one of said members, a guide rod on the body portion of the other of said member and slidably engaged in said tube, a locking device mounted on the free end of said tube and including a key actuated locking dog, and rack teeth on said guide rod with which said locking dog is engageable for securing the clamping members at the desired adjustment against unauthorized the lock for either releasing or securing said members together optionally.

LLOYD M. BRUNS. 

